Fujifilm’s X-T30 II is one of my favorite cameras because it offers many of the features of high-end models for less money. So I was especially excited when the company launched X-T50it’s like a miniature version of the $1,700 X-T5.
It shares many features, including a 40.2-megapixel sensor, 6K 30P video support, and in-body stabilization, a first for the series. At the same time, it retains the small size and retro-cute style of the previous models.
At $1,400, it’s not as cheap as the $900 X-T30. I put the X-T50 to the test with some professional photographer friends in London to see if it was worth the extra half a grand.
Body and handling
The X-T50 is all about portability and style, so it’s nice and light at 438 grams (0.96 pounds), just 50 grams more than the previous model. If you are traveling with a compact lens, it can easily be carried in a bag.
At the same time, the handle has been enlarged enough to make it easier to hang the camera. The two control buttons, shutter speed dial and exposure compensation dial, joystick and eight button operation are largely unchanged. However, Fujifilm has introduced a new trick: a film simulation dial in place of the previous drive mode – more on that later.
All of this makes handling larger cameras almost easier. A dedicated shutter release is a rare feature these days, so it takes some getting used to. The advantage is that you can see this setting just by looking at the camera, which is necessary for discreet street or travel shots.
Like previous models in this series, the X-T50 has a non-dimmable tilt-only display, which is likely to be confusing for vloggers who are impressed with its video capabilities. Competing models such as the Sony A6700 and Canon R7 have flip-out displays. The 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder isn’t super sharp, but it’s par for the course in this price range.
With a small battery like the one in the X100 VI, the X-T50 can manage just 305 shots on a charge or 390 in save mode. It is near the bottom in its category. By comparison, Canon’s similarly priced R7 can take up to 660 photos before the battery dies.
The X-T50 has a decent array of ports, including microHDMI, USB-C and a microphone jack. As before, there’s no headphone jack, but you can use the USB-C jack with a 3.5mm adapter to control audio. It comes with a single but fast UHS-II card slot.
Performance
If it’s pure performance you’re after, the X-T50 probably isn’t for you. Burst speeds are decent at 13 fps in electronic shutter mode or up to 8 fps with manual shutter – a far cry from the Canon R7’s 30 fps in electronic mode. Also, an electronic shutter is only good if your subject isn’t moving very quickly, as rolling shutter distortion is very noticeable on this model.
Steve Dent for Engadget
Autofocus is still not Fujifilm’s strong point. It was a bit hit or miss when shooting fast-moving subjects in continuous mode, especially when they were close to the camera. However, performance is highly dependent on the lens used.
In addition to face and eye detection, Fujifilm has added subject-tracking autofocus modes for animals, birds, cars, motorcycles, airplanes, and trains. This feature is completely separate from the regular eye and face detection modes, so you have to go into menus or program two separate buttons to switch between them.
For the other types of photography it’s designed for, the X-T50’s autofocus works well, though it’s not up to Sony, Canon, or even Nikon standards.
The main new feature is stabilization in the body. With up to seven stops of shake reduction, you can get sharp photos up to about a quarter of a second. That’s the same as the X-T5 at 557 grams, which is quite an achievement considering the size difference. It makes the X-T50 more versatile, allowing you to blur motion to create interesting shots or shoot in dark environments.
Image quality
With the same 40MP sensor as the X-H2 and X-T5, the X-T50 offers a big boost in resolution over the 26MP X-30 II. In addition to increasing sharpness, the extra pixels make cropping just right for travel photography, wildlife shots, or anything else where you can’t get too close to your subject.
In-camera processing of JPEG files is good, with pleasing, accurate colors and just the right amount of sharpening and noise reduction. You can often share photos straight out of the camera, with no post-processing needed – a plus for street and other photographers who don’t like to mess around in post.
14-bit RAW photos offer plenty of room for fine-tuning because they retain a high amount of detail in highlights and shadows. As such, I saw low levels of banding, noise, and other artifacts at low ISOs in all image areas.
Steve Dent for Engadget
The higher resolution doesn’t hurt image quality too much in low light. Noise is well controlled up to ISO 6,400, and you can go up to ISO 12,800 in a pinch. Given that the X-T50 is an APS-C and not a full-frame camera, I was impressed by the lack of noise when shooting in bars and other dark environments.
And of course, the X100 VI offers Fujifilm’s full range of film simulation modes, all easily accessible on the new dial. You can experiment with popular looks like Velvia, Eterna, Acros black and white and others. It also comes with Fujifilm’s new Reala Ace, which is based on one of the company’s older negative films. At the same time, you get a full-color RAW backup, so you’re not locked into a specific look.
Video
With excellent video features, the X-T50 is a solid hybrid camera, just be aware of some caveats – especially cropping and sharpness.
Like the X-T5, you can shoot 6.2K at 30fps with 1.23x cropping, or 4K up to 60fps with line skipping and 1.14x cropping. The clipping occurs because 6K video only requires 24 megapixels and the sensor/processor combination is not up to the task of supersampling the entire sensor width.
Steve Dent for Engadget
The camera also offers up to 30p sub-sampling 4K or high definition 4K 30p with 1.23x crop using the full sensor width. For super slow motion, Fujifilm has also introduced 10-bit and F-Log2 settings for extra dynamic range.
In 6.2K and 4K HQ, the rolling shutter curve is pronounced, so you’ll want to avoid excessive or jerky camera movements. Subsampled 4K is better in this area, but the video is noticeably less sharp.
Video autofocus matches what I saw with photos, which is that it was decent, but not ideal for moving subjects. The AI-powered AF locked onto subjects, but still couldn’t always keep up with birds, animals or vehicles.
Handheld video is now a real option with in-body stabilization. It works well if you’re not doing sharp movements, and the ‘high’ mode offers tripod-like smoothness. Digital stabilization is also present, but it is not supported by 6K or HQ modes and does not reduce shake while walking.
Video quality is solid for such a small camera, offering the same accurate colors I’ve seen in photo modes. Shooting in 10-bit F-Log allowed for significant tweaking or creativity with shots in post. If you want a special look straight from the camera, you can shoot video using film simulation modes.
Collection
Steve Dent for Engadget
not all X-T50 It’s an awesome upgrade over the X-T30 II, with improvements in almost every area – especially resolution, stabilization and video. The film simulation button is a little gimmicky, but it should appeal to fans of the brand, especially those who loved the X100 VI.
The problem with this camera is the price. The $900 X-T30 II was easy to recommend to buyers on a mid-range budget. However, at $1,400, the X-T50 is only $300 less than the superior X-T5, and at that price point there’s plenty of competition from full-frame models like the Canon R7 and Sony A6700, as well as full-frame models from Canon. R8, Nikon Z6 II/Z5/Zfc and Panasonic S9.
Fujifilm probably realized that the X-T50 is just as capable as the X-T5, and that the 40-megapixel resolution beats the competition – but that put many potential buyers off the market. If you’re looking for something around the same price as the X-T30 II, Nikon’s $1,100 Zfc is just as nice and a lot cheaper.
This article was originally published on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/fujifilm-x-t50-review-a-big-improvement-for-a-lot-more-money-180046809.html?src=rss was done.
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